Preventing Leg Ulcer with Varicose Vein Treatment

There was a very interesting article recently published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery that discussed the optimal treatment for patients with a healed venous stasis ulcer with associated with saphenous vein reflux. I agree with the conclusion of the authors that ablation of an incompetent saphenous vein reduces the chance of a recurrent ulcer and optimizes the leg circulation.

In our experience, patients maintain much healthier legs and see a markedly reduced incidence of repeated leg ulcers when we eliminate the backflow and normalize the venous circulation.

We know that venous insufficiency occurs when the one-way vein valves that direct blood up the leg no longer function properly. When this occurs, the downward pressure of gravity causes the vein blood to reverse and pooling of blood in the lower leg occurs. This leads to common symptoms of leg heaviness, fatigue varicose veins, and ultimately to skin damage and ulceration.

Endovenous ablation (commonly done with VNUS Closure) eliminates the source of the backflow in the veins and relieves the symptoms so often seen with venous reflux.

Importantly, VNUS Closure is done in the office under local anesthesia allowing immediate recovery to normal activity. Medical insurances generally consider this medically necessary and coverage for the procedure is common.

Patients with varicose veins are encouraged to see a qualified expert in venous disease before longer term problems of skin damage and ulceration occur. Early intervention is the key to long term benefit